Bruce Lerch: The Ultimate Colleague and Friend

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

by Ryan Kilian – Founder and Director / Mass Prep Stars

The first day of the Spring sports season has come and gone without my annual phone call highlighting the opening week of lacrosse scrimmages. I also missed the lengthy follow-up discussion regarding the pre-season make-up of all the top Massachusetts high school lacrosse teams. It was almost fitting that it snowed on Sunday night and Monday morning, as the lacrosse community had to adjust to the curveball thrown their way, just like we have all had to adjust to the beginning the lacrosse season without our dear friend and colleague, Bruce Lerch.

Bruce was a larger-than-life member of the Massachusetts High School sports community, as a journalist with the Boston Herald and as the Editor-In-Chef of Bostonlax.net. He will forever be remembered as a one-of-a-kind local journalist, who put the student-athletes, coaches and schools first and the results of the contests second. More than a just a talented reporter, Bruce will always be remembered as a kind and generous friend, who was genuine, honest and a lot of fun.

It has been a fitting tribute that so many people have written articles and posts to express their feelings about Bruce. While this post is certainly long overdue, it also seems fitting, as this was the time of year that Bruce and I would spend countless hours a week on the phone, in local Massachusetts food establishments and on the sidelines of lacrosse fields discussing the game that we both loved. The articles and posts about Bruce have all been heartfelt and moving, as they have displayed the true impact that Bruce had on our lives and in our community.

Having known Bruce for almost 10 years I came to discover how much I valued our friendship. Whether Bruce was commenting on my toddler sons and their backyard lacrosse skills or whether we spent time discussing deeper topics, such as the value of happiness in your profession, I always appreciated the personal relationship and sincerity that Bruce and I shared. Bruce and I spent many nights hashing out all-star teams, rankings lists, undiscovered talent and under-the-radar student-athletes. We shared a common love of high school sports and the beauty and passion of being dedicated Massachusetts high school sports junkies. Bruce taught me how to appreciate the little things and he deeply valued his importance in the lives of this community.

Bruce was what high school sports should always be about. He genuinely cared about the kids, the coaches and the schools that he covered. He built sustainable and sincere relationships with the local interscholastic sports community and he appreciated his role in telling their stories.

Things will certainly be different and challenging this 2016 lacrosse season, but Bruce would want us to keep supporting the game, the schools and the student-athletes whom he loved so much. Bruce will be missed dearly, but he will never be forgotten.

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